MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Engineering Handbook 1996

Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia

Caution Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1037-0919

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996


OUTLINE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Part 1: Degree programs at the Caulfield school

At the Caulfield school six degree programs are available: a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Computing), Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computing), Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial and Computing), Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Computing), Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies) and Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology).

CONTENTS

  1. Bachelor of Engineering (BE)
  2. Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Computing)
  3. Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computing)
  4. Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial and Computing)
  5. Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Computing)
  6. Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours
  7. Bachelor of Technology
  8. Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies)
  9. Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)

Bachelor of Engineering (BE)

(Civil and Computing); (Electrical and Computing); (Industrial and Computing); (Mechanical and Computing)

The BE degrees taught entirely at the Caulfield school are of four years duration if taken full-time, or up to eight years if taken part-time. Each degree may be awarded either as a pass degree or as a degree with honours.

The degree courses place particular emphasis on the practice of engineering and each course provides for broad training in the chosen discipline.

Changes have been introduced to all of the Caulfield BE courses to incorporate the massive developments occurring because of the widespread use of computers. About 20 per cent of the course content directly relates to computers, computer application and computing skills. This means that students are awarded a degree of Bachelor of Engineering in one of four areas: civil and computing, electrical and computing, industrial and computing, or mechanical and computing.

Subject lists for the BE

(Civil and Computing); (Electrical and Computing); (Industrial and Computing); (Mechanical and Computing)

The core and elective subjects required at each level in the courses offered by each of the divisions are listed in full in the subject lists included after this section of the handbook. Students should become familiar with the requirements for completion of a particular degree set out in the subject lists.

First level

The first year is common to the courses in all disciplines. This means that students may delay the decision about choice of specialised discipline until the end of the first year. Students are assisted in making their choice of discipline by their experience of first-level engineering subjects and by a series of career lectures in second semester which review the particular disciplines offered.

Prerequisites within level one

The following second-semester subjects currently have first-semester subjects as prerequisites:

+ ENC1102.04 Computer applications 2

+ ENC1202.03 Electrical technology 2

+ ENC1302.03 Applied mechanics 2

+ ENC1402.03 Computer science 2

+ MAC1912.04 Mathematics 2

+ PHS1162.03 Physics 2

Second, third and fourth levels

At the beginning of second-level students enrol in one of the four degrees offered by the three divisions of the Caulfield School of Engineering. The courses are civil and computing, electrical and computing, industrial and computing, and mechanical and computing.

At all levels and in all disciplines many subjects have prerequisites. Students should ensure that all prerequisites have been met before enrolling in a subject. If a subject is failed which is a prerequisite it is the student's responsibility to withdraw from a subject which has the failed subject as a prerequisite.

In the following section the nature and content of the courses offered by the divisions is briefly explained.


Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Computing)

Objectives

Knowledge and understanding

A graduate with the award of Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Computing) will be expected to have a general knowledge and understanding of:

+ science and scientific method;

+ professional expectations relating to ethics and legal responsibilities;

+ the principles of human, physical and resources management associated with the management of engineering projects.

Understanding and skills

The graduate should have understanding and skills relating to the following specific topics:

+ materials behaviour and design requirements for a range of materials including soil, rock, timber, steel, concrete and bitumen-based end products;

+ computer usage including analysis, design, data-based management and text processing based on a range of systems;

+ fluid systems including channel flow of water in pipe networks and the control and prediction of flow in various topographical catchments;

+ traffic and transport systems including methods of predicting and controlling traffic in urban and rural environments;

+ establishment of load requirements for a range of structural systems and the determination of loading effects on those systems

+ the resource and environmental impact of engineering decisions;

+ human, project and financial management.

Professional attitudes

The graduate is expected to display the following general attributes:

+ acceptable oral and written skills;

+ the capacity to organise and to work as part of a team;

+ an understanding of and commitment to total quality management;

+ a critical approach to problem solving;

+ an ability to seek, evaluate and utilise knowledge;

+ self motivation and an ability to perform independent work;

+ an ability to synthesise knowledge;

+ a commitment to ongoing learning;

+ an appreciation of the appropriate use of technology and a sensitivity to the impact of technology on society;

+ a concern for the environment and an appreciation of the need for sustainable development;

+ a creative and responsive approach to all challenges;

+ skills in the mathematical and physical sciences and an appreciation of their limitations.

Intellectual and cultural attributes

Graduates will be expected to be aware of and responsive to issues such as:

+ the quest for knowledge over a wide range of human endeavour and a critical evaluation of that knowledge;

+ an understanding of political processes and an appreciation of, and a sensitivity to the consequences of political decision making;

+ interpersonal relationships, work place safety, and non-discriminatory practices;

+ the arts and related cultural diversity;

+ the societal expectations of civil engineers and other professionals;

+ the need to be aware of and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge based on current best practice;

+ an acknowledgment of personal limitations, both technically and in professional relationships.

Course of studies

The scope of civil engineering is vast. Civil engineers work in branches such as structural engineering, soil engineering, rock engineering, dam engineering, hydraulic engineering, highway engineering, traffic engineering, sanitary engineering, water resources engineering, town planning and coastal engineering. In any of these branches a civil engineer may work in the functional areas of research, investigation, design, construction or operation and the undergraduate course in the Department of Civil Engineering prepares a student accordingly.

The civil engineering course includes basic science as a necessary foundation for engineering science, which in turn provides a foundation for the applied science and a background for the applied art of civil engineering. Thus at level one, a major section of the course consists of the basic sciences of mathematics, physics and electrical technology. Level-one studies also introduce studies in applied mechanics, engineering communications and computer studies.

Level-two subjects expand and extend the coverage of engineering science with studies in fluid mechanics, materials science and further mathematics and computing. The applications to engineering are elucidated by studies in structural engineering and surveying. Engineering management is also introduced.

Level-three subjects further extend the studies in engineering science but with an increasing emphasis on their integration with applied civil engineering. Studies in structural engineering, computer applications and engineering management are continued. Geology and soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering, timber engineering, and hydrology, hydraulics and public health engineering are introduced; an industrial project is also undertaken.

Level-four further expands on earlier studies in computing, engineering management, structural engineering and the industrial project. Students are exposed to civil engineering design which draws together much of the material covered in earlier studies. Traffic engineering and planning and municipal and highway engineering are covered. Students also elect to study either project management, geotechnics or computer applications.

A feature of the course is an annual one-week camp at a location away from Melbourne, attended by third and fourth-year students. At this camp, students learn to apply the results of their civil engineering studies to practical civil engineering problems. Students are also required to obtain work experience during the long vacations.

The overall aim of the course is to prepare a well-rounded professional poised for employment in any of a wide range of civil engineering occupations and eager for continuing education to remain abreast of latest developments in his or her discipline.


Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computing)

Objectives

The course leading to the Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computing) has as its main objectives the development of the following attributes in its graduates.

Knowledge and understanding

A graduate will be expected to know and understand:

+ the fundamental principles that govern the field of electrical engineering;

+ the systems, processes and equipment which form the field of operations of the profession of electrical engineering as understood in its broadest meaning;

+ the relationship between the various constituents of the field of electrical engineering;

+ the fundamental principles of the disciplines related to the field of electrical engineering;

+ the relationship between the field of electrical engineering and other fields of activity including management, economics and law;

+ the nature of the fast developing branches of the profession such as computer technology and software engineering;

+ information sources and data banks and their influence on the profession.

Skills

A graduate will be expected to be able:

+ to conduct experimental investigations and interpret the results obtained;

+ to operate equipment and to recognise faults in it;

+ to design systems or equipment and test the resulting prototypes;

+ to apply fundamental principles to the solution of practical problems;

+ to work within a team;

+ to retrieve relevant information efficiently;

+ to display oral and written communication skills worthy of the profession.

Attitudes

A graduate will be expected to display:

+ professional integrity of the highest order;

+ sensitivity to the needs and requirements of other professional groups;

+ high regard for society values;

+ respect for nature and the environment;

+ respect for safety rules and other procedures in the workplace;

+ commitment to the use of knowledge and skills in the service of the community outside the workplace;

+ commitment to lifelong learning.

Course of studies

Most high-technology plants and services are the result of achievements in electrical engineering and its dynamic disciplines of electronics, microelectronics and digital technology. The application of microelectronics has resulted in the explosive development of computers, automation and communications in recent years. These developments will continue into the future.

Electrical engineering is an exciting and challenging area of study for women and men, and graduates have excellent employment opportunities. Within the branches of electrical, electronic and computer engineering there is a wide range of choice to meet the interests and aspirations of each graduate.

The full-time, four-year degree course at the Caulfield school is strongly vocation-oriented in order to train electrical, electronic and communications engineers who can quickly assimilate into professional employment.

The course is structured to provide a thorough understanding of the principles and applications of the various disciplines. In addition it is designed to develop personal qualities that are essential for a professional engineer, such as ethics, creativity and sound judgement to create systems for the benefit of society.

The first year is common with the other engineering courses at Caulfield and covers basic studies including electrical technology and computer science.

The following two years cover essential studies which provide breadth and depth of understanding of electrical, communication, power, automatic control and computing systems.

The final year is devoted to studies at a professional level, for which elective subjects permit specialisation in automatic control, electronics, communications, computer systems and electrical power. Year-three and year-four projects permit students to complete substantial engineering tasks of their choice. Computing and management subjects are included throughout the course.


Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial and Computing)

Objectives

A graduate with the award of Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial and Computing) may be expected to display the following attributes.

Knowledge and understanding

A student will be expected to have a knowledge and understanding of:

+ the theory and methodology used to analyse and model systems of relevance to industrial engineers; in particular designs which integrate material, information, human and financial resources, (through the analysis of production sequences and methods, optimum flows and layouts, and of work methods and procedures, and the organisation of labour);

+ the need to optimise solutions to industrial engineering problems within a set of constraints posed by economic factors, safety and environmental considerations, strategic objectives and organisational culture;

+ professional expectations relating to ethics and legal responsibility and will act accordingly.

Skills

The student should be able to:

+ analyse existing work procedures;

+ synthesise processes from its component parts;

+ design and use productive systems which link information flow with material flow;

+ use computer and other tools to simulate work methods and material flow;

+ design and use information systems which monitor operational performance;

+ apply computer programming to productive systems;

+ collect and analyse data;

+ plan and execute tasks using appropriate resources;

+ communicate effectively;

+ function individually and as a member of a team;

+ focus on the client/customer needs;

+ train other people;

+ evaluate assumptions and arguments critically;

+ adopt creative approaches towards problem solving, and

+ integrate knowledge from different areas to synthesise a coherent analysis and design to a problem.

Attitudes

The graduate is expected to display:

+ leadership in the context of quality improvements, cost containment and value adding in the manufacture of products and provision of services;

+ awareness of current attitudes to and factors affecting organisational change, and take account of them in changes to the method of work;

+ relevance of industrial engineering methodology towards improving the way work is conducted in manufacturing and service organisations

+ commitment to safe practice with minimal adverse environmental impact

+ appreciation of the needs and expectations of the community, and individuals in it.

Course of studies

Industrial engineers design productive systems comprising people, machines, materials and money. They are people with creative and innovative skills and a knowledge of engineering, computing and business principles. Their main aims are to create an efficient and effective workplace to achieve a high productivity and high performance - the maximum output from an organisation for the same input of effort and resources and the meeting of important objectives. These aims involve industrial engineers paying due regard to all production aspects, as well as product quality and human factors. Only in this way can a company compete in today's world and fulfil the needs of its customers, employees and owners.

Monash industrial engineering training, covers the basic applied sciences and engineering to provide skills in dealing with complex engineering equipment. This includes computer-based equipment, so skills in both electronics and computing are developed. But every company depends on its finance and on the skill of its employees, hence studies in both business and social subjects are also undertaken. Safety in the work place and a knowledge of new materials are also included. Industrial engineering draws on a broader range of skills than perhaps any other course at the Caulfield school. The degree course at Caulfield is strongly vocation-oriented in order to train industrial engineers who can quickly assimilate into professional employment.

The course is structured to provide a thorough understanding of the principles and applications of the various disciplines. In addition, it is designed to develop personal qualities that are essential for a professional engineer, such as personal communication skills, ethics, creativity and sound judgement to design and establish systems for the benefit of society.

The first year is common with the other engineering courses and covers basic studies including computer science and engineering communications.


Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Computing)

Objectives

Knowledge and understanding

Graduates will be expected to display broad knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles involved in their chosen field of mechanical engineering and to apply these principles competently and responsibly to the design, manufacture, installation, control and operation of new and existing systems, the maintenance and management of machines, thermodynamic processes, manufacturing processes, materials handling plants and general engineering systems. They will be expected to have acquired a basic understanding of:

+ analytical methods required for the design of functional engineering components and complete engineering systems;

+ computer programming and its application to design, manufacturing, control and operation of manufacturing processes;

+ optimisation techniques applied to the solution of any engineering component/systems within a set of constraints posed by economic factors, safety considerations, end user and the impact on the environment;

+ the principles of management of physical, human and financial resources associated with the practice of engineering;

+ experimental techniques and their application;

+ the adaptation of commercially available designs to new system design, product design and product improvements.

Professional skills

Graduates will be expected to be able to critically appraise, plan and manage industrial projects as individuals and as members of a team; and to approach work, community responsibilities and personal development in a professional manner. They will be expected to have developed professional skills enabling them to:

+ apply techniques of lateral thinking in engineering design, especially to the design of new products and systems through the integration of new concepts and commercially available designs or sub-assemblies;

+ predict behaviour of engineering components and processes;

+ optimise design, performance and human resources;

+ critically evaluate tender proposals and vendor offerings;

+ accommodate the need for change to reflect the rapid change of technology and customer requirements;

+ operate effectively as an individual or as a member of a team;

+ plan and manage engineering tasks using appropriate resources;

+ use computer packages in the solution of engineering problems;

+ identify possible problems and be aware of existing solutions;

+ effectively communicate through oral and written material with his or her peers and the general public.

Attitudes and behaviour

Graduates will be expected to have developed attitudes facilitating leadership, lifelong learning, cultural curiosity and ethical responsibility to the community. They will be expected to display:

+ acceptance of new ideas and willingness to participate in change in the workplace

+ acceptance of continual updating of personal professional knowledge and skills;

+ acceptance of ethical responsibilities to the community and the profession;

+ acceptance of environmental responsibilities to the planet.

Course of studies

Mechanical engineering is the practice that has arisen from the need to generate, transmit and control mechanical energy. This practice brings with it the need to study methods of generation, transmission and control and increasingly to employ scientifically based tools. Today, mechanical engineering has as its core the interaction of people and machines and the control of that interaction. Mechanical engineers will be found designing, manufacturing and commissioning nuclear power plants, controlling physical environments, aerospace development, exploring forms of transportation, devising new machines and ways of controlling new machines and concerning themselves with all aspects of mechanical handling systems and methods of production of anything manufactured in material form. They will be found not only in factories, research establishments, or in a consulting practice, but also in the mineral resource, chemical process and agricultural industries. They will regard their function as one of design, production, operation, consulting, technical management, general management, research and development and maintenance of complex plants.

The undergraduate course is designed to provide a fundamental and broad training to allow graduates to steer their course into any of these areas as they now exist or as they might develop in future. The course offers a sound training in engineering experimentation and in the physical and engineering sciences. It includes comprehensive studies in design in which the analytical tools are brought to bear in a synthesis which accounts satisfactorily for economic, organisational and human factors. The use of computers in data reduction and in system modelling is studied. Third and fourth years include an industrial project whilst, during the final year, either a major experimental project or substantial participation with a design team actively engaged with practising engineers is arranged. The results are presented by thesis and orally.

The design of the course attempts also to acknowledge the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering and to provide the graduate with a facility for expanding his or her own development into related fields. It provides a working knowledge of the elements of control, stress systems, electronics instrumentation, microcomputers and managerial procedures.


Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours

(Civil and Computing) + (Electrical and Computing) + (Industrial and Computing) + (Mechanical and Computing)

The degree of Bachelor of Engineering with honours at Caulfield is awarded for meritorious performance in the course as a whole. No additional time is required. All subjects which have a numerical mark are considered in the determination of an honours result, but greater weight is given to the subjects in the later years of the course.


Bachelor of Technology

The Bachelor of Technology degrees are of three years duration, if taken full-time or up to six years if taken part-time. They are part of a program which links the degrees with courses in designated TAFE colleges.

Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)

The Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology) (BTech(AMT)) is articulated to approved Associate Diploma and Advanced Certificate courses in Holmesglen, Peninsula, Barton and Casey colleges of TAFE. TAFE courses which have already been approved for entry include manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, mechanical design drafting, automated systems and materials technology, but other Associate Diplomas in appropriate areas of engineering and applied science will also be considered. The second and third years of the degree are taught on the Caulfield campus of the university. The diplomates gain advanced standing to second year of the BTech(AMT).

The course provides a specialised education designed to meet the needs of industry for technologists having a detailed knowledge of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) and its associated management techniques. Graduates may be employed in areas such as quality management and control, production or process management, CAD/CAM, health and safety, scheduling and planning and shift or workshop supervision.

A special feature of the BTech(AMT) is that it gives advanced standing into the third level of the Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial and Computing) degree. The degree may also qualify the graduate for entry into graduate diplomas in engineering, business or education.

Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies)

The Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies) (BTech(CompSt)) is articulated with the Associate Diploma in Technology (Computing) which is run at the Holmesglen and Peninsula colleges of technical and further education (TAFE). The first year of the program is common to both the associate diploma and the degree. The second and third years of the degree are taught on the Caulfield and Peninsula campuses of the university. The course aims to produce technologists who are flexible in their thinking and so are able to respond to the changing needs of industry.

Subject lists for the Bachelor of Technology (CompSt) and Bachelor of Technology (AMT) degrees

The core and elective subjects required at level two and three in the courses are listed in full in the subject lists for the Bachelor of Technology degrees included after this section of the handbook. Students should become familiar with the requirements for completion of the degree set out in the subject lists.


Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies)

Objectives

The Bachelor of Technology (Computer Studies) aims to develop graduates who can contribute their knowledge, skills and attitudes in the field of computer studies and who have a broad knowledge of the technological principles of computer studies, usable industrial skills, and an ability to respond to the changing needs of industry.

Knowledge and understanding

Graduates will have acquired a basic understanding of:

+ software and its development;

+ the role of modern technology in the workplace;

+ a wide range of computer-based tools and systems and their uses;

+ the principles of management necessary for effective operations;

+ modern communication techniques.

Skills

Graduates are expected to have the ability to:

+ analyse software requirements, communicate with users, and report on the findings;

+ write computer programs to meet specifications;

+ install and maintain software;

+ use and/or apply modern computer-based tools and systems, such as database systems, operating systems, computer aided manufacturing, data communications, microprocessors and graphics;

+ effectively manage office/industrial systems using modern technology;

+ effectively communicate with users and other professionals in the computer field;

+ work well within a team.

Attitudes

Graduates will be expected to display:

+ commitment to the use of skills for the development of society;

+ critical appreciation of knowledge;

+ a commitment to ongoing education;

+ a well developed sense of initiative.

Subjects

First level

Completed at an approved TAFE college.

Second and third levels

Students should be aware that the following subjects have prerequisites:

+ ELE2291.04 Digital design

+ TEC2042.04 Engineering programming 2

+ TEC3331.04 Industrial project 1

+ TEC3332.04 Industrial project 2

+ TEC3842.04 Computer graphics 2

+ TEC3891.04 Computer applications 2

Students should ensure that all prerequisites have been met before enrolling in a subject. If a subject is failed which is a prerequisite it is the student's responsibility to withdraw from a subject which has the failed subject as a prerequisite.


Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)

Objectives

A graduate with the award of Bachelor of Technology (Advanced Manufacturing Technology) may be expected to display the following attributes.

Knowledge and understanding

Graduates will have acquired knowledge and understanding of:

+ the concepts necessary to modify, maintain and develop systems of relevance to advanced manufacturing technology (AMT);

+ fundamentals of engineering sciences;

+ the management issues related to AMT (quality systems and manufacturing management), and the challenges related to change management and the cultural changes necessary to adopt the new technology;

+ the health, safety and the environmental issues to be considered during the implementation and maintenance of AMT;

+ the scheduling and planning principles and tools that can be applied to improve the productivity, and cost effectiveness to manufacture goods using AMT;

+ the concepts that will assist in shift or the workshop supervision, production planning and job control.

Skills

Graduates will develop skills in:

+ analytical methods necessary to measure, evaluate, and estimate relevant system parameters necessary for the application of AMT;

+ computer applications to create applicable systems, documents, manufacturing schedules and programs;

+ selection of materials and manufacturing processes most suitable for a particular design;

+ quality control and manufacturing management;

+ the use of automated transfer, manufacturing, retrieval and storage systems, and appreciate their benefits;

+ integrating concepts from different disciplines to design, develop and analyse an AMT-based problem;

+ oral and written communications;

+ working independently or in a group to solve a problem;

+ planning and scheduling to execute a given task using AMT based resources;

+ the implementation of occupational health and safety principles to develop an efficient and productive working environment.

Attitudes

The graduate is expected to develop:

+ continuing awareness of the developing technology and applications of the relevant technology to improve the productivity to achieve a competitive edge;

+ leadership in the context of AMT-based shift or workshop supervision, quality improvements, cost containment and value added manufacturing of products, provision of services and the application and maintenance of AMT;

+ appreciation of changes necessary to provide a leading edge;

+ commitment to safe working practice resulting in minimal adverse environmental impact;

+ appreciation of the current and future needs and expectations of the society with a view to provide relevant services within the means.

Subjects

First level

Completed at an approved TAFE college.

Second level

Level two focuses on developing the basic maths, sciences, computing, materials and manufacturing knowledge needed by the students. Students should be aware that the following subject has prerequisites:

+ TEC2316.03 Computer applications 2

and that the following subjects have corequisites:

+ TEC2345.04 Manufacturing processes 1

+ TEC2346.04 Manufacturing processes 2

Third level

Level three broadens the student's knowledge by introducing a range of management topics such as quality management, maintenance management, and managing people. There is also further development in technical subjects related to advanced manufacturing, such as CAD/Robotics. An industrial project is undertaken which will enable students to spend some time working on a substantial topic of interest to industry. Electives are available at each level some of which will be recommended. Students should be aware that the following subjects have prerequisites:

+ TEC3226.02 Instrumentation

+ TEC3236.02 Design for manufacturing

+ TEC3256.02 Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

+ TEC3265.02 Manufacturing automation and control

+ TEC3266.02 Materials handling and robotics

+ TEC3305.04 Quality control

+ TEC3316.03 Industrial project 2

+ TEC3485.04 Engineering mathematics 1

+ TEC3486.04 Engineering mathematics 2

Students should ensure that all prerequisites and corequisites have been met before enrolling in a subject. If a subject is failed which is a prerequisite it is the student's responsibility to withdraw from a subject which has the failed subject as a prerequisite.


| Engineering handbook | Monash handbooks | Monash University